BT Sport confirms opening live 2017/18 Betfred Cup games

The 2017/18 Scottish football season kicks off on BT Sport in July with live coverage of six matches from the group stages of the Betfred Cup.

Now in its second season of broadcasting the competition, BT Sport will start its coverage on Friday, 14 July, with the Ayrshire derby between Ayr United and Kilmarnock, while Heart of Midlothian, Hibernian, Partick Thistle, St Mirren, Ross County and Dunfermline Athletic will all feature before the Dundee derby on 30 July.

The 2017 Betfred Cup will provide the opening exchanges in the Scottish football season and follows a hugely successful first year in the competition’s unique format which saw a number of innovations introduced.

The format sees all drawn group stage matches go straight to a penalty shoot-out with the winners earning an extra ‘bonus point’ in addition to the traditional point given for a draw.

The eight group winners and four best runners-up progress to the last 16 where they are joined by holders Celtic and fellow European representatives Aberdeen, Rangers and St Johnstone.

SPFL Chief Executive Neil Doncaster commented:

“The reaction to the first season of the Betfred Cup was hugely positive and so it is with great excitement and anticipation that we look forward to the 2017 competition.

“There are some fantastic Group Stage ties to look forward to, with six matches live on our valued broadcast partner BT Sport including a couple of mouth-watering derbies. We wish all clubs dreaming of making it to the final in November the very best of luck.”

BT Sport’s coverage of the competition will be fronted by Darrell Currie, with analysis from Stephen Craigan, Michael Stewart, Chris Sutton and a variety of special guests.